Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1887-02-24
in as; Delaware, fourth, with in IS; Penn.

In 23; Delaware, fourth, with in 25; Penn
sylvanlA, next, with / In ~; Maryland,
eleventh, with l In 32; Massachusetts,
twelfth, with In "a; Ohio, thirteenth, with
In So; New York, twenty-third, with in
a.. The Southern States make the poorest
showing, South Carolina being the last,
with only Odd Fellow to every 400 Of the
male white population. During the first
five years after the change We find 10
jurisdictions have made a loss In member
ship. They are Nevada, District of Columbia,
Maryland, Indiana, West Virginia, Ken
lucky, Georgia, Mississippi, Louisiana and
North Carolina. Allthe others have made
a gaiu. But am sorry to say that Delawai o
has made abont the smallest gain, being
only per cent; Pennsylvania the nexG
highest, B per cent; Massachusetts,, 25 per
cent, Maine AZ per cent, and SO on.
The total number of Odd fellows on Jsn-
uary 1st, 1875, was 459,9 ,903. The total num-
Der In 1881 was 456 ,053, being an increase
In the five years preceding the change In
the work Of 2,150. The total number on
January 1st, 1888 Zone year sgo), was
5l5, ,2O7, being an increase in the five years
after the change of 60,154. Such Is the con
ditlon OF the order In the United States
Now as to eur own little Delaware.
It may be noticed that the tables OF th.
Sovereign Grand Lodge and Of the Grand
Lodge OF Delaware do not exactly agree
but as the period Of time is different both
may be .eorract. The Sovereign. Grand
Lodge reports are up to January lst, while
those Of the Grand Lodge Of Delaware are
up to April let.
was 4l05, ,944 "a; In 1881, It was slit 4S2 90
q gain In Ave years of $tl ,5S8 G8. In 1855
It was 1929, 135 49, % Rain In Eve years Of
$l1 1852 Al; being a little greater gain iu
value In the last fiys Years than in the pre-
vious five yeas.
Thirteen lodges In the State have made a
gain IN membership In the last five years,
namely: Morning Star, "A members; Eden,
W; Fidelity, 80; oentreville, ls; Eagle, IS /;
Hermann, IA; Atlantic, IA; National, IL; !;
Brandywine, II; Oriental, g.; Hebron, 5;
FELTON,, 2; Fairfax, /. All the others have
lost in membership. or the Wilmington
lodges, Delaware has lost z; Jefferson, SO /;
Mechanics, So; Hope, 10; Asylum, IL; o.
lumbia, IS. The other three have gained
Fairfax, l; Hermann, IA; Eden, SO.
Thus 1t Is seen that the order in the United
States January 1st 1886, had membership
OF over $4,000 and during the last Ave
years has made considerable gains in all
the principal jurisdictions. We notice that
the mot substantial gains have been in the
most fogressive states, as in the east and
west. In our own little State, while we
have not gained much, we have not run
behind and we still hold the position of the
fourth state In the Union.
Inc order Is In the stxty-eighth year Of its
existence, and its growing wealth has
proved that 1t Ia on a sound financial basis.
Its principles and teachings are of the high
est order. Its work is simple and at the
same time beautiful. Its beneficial features
are liberal, and we have good reason to
believe that 0ddfellowship is destined to
become one of the greatest powers for
morality and benevolence In the world. We
have every reason to be proud of our noble
order. We have good cause. Let us take
hold and make Delaware the banner State.